Panelo: Duterte was not fed wrong info

- President Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte dropped the names of cops who are allegedly involved with activities that protect drug lords

- Because of this, debates started as to the truthfulness of the claim of the new president

- Atty. Salvador Panelo announced that President Duterte has his basis in doing so

The Palace continued to stand firmly in its position that the allegation of President Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte that the give police officers are protecting drug syndicates has its correct basis and not merely based on hearsay.

Atty. Salvador Panelo, chief presidential legal counsel, said that the crime-busting President Duterte is able to access “all information and intelligence reports" and that he will not publicly state the names of the generals without "valid basis."

"Palagay ko, kahit sino, 'pag mali ka tatanggapin mo, pero in this particular thing, I think he will not name any person kung wala siyang valid basis, may ebidensiya," Panelo told members of the media.

(I believe that whoever makes a mistake, that person will accept it, but in this particular thing, I think he will not name any person if he does not have a valid basis. He has evidence.)

(You know, the information being fed wrong is I think only less than .00 percent. He is the president. If you are the president, you have access. They have studied and validated already. Even before, he is already saying that even if he is not yet president, if you have noticed, he knows a lot because a lot of people trusts Mayor Duterte that time as a mayor. That’s why he is getting information and they are always being validated.)

The veteran lawyer stressed that the generals were actually given the right to due process and said that they have an opportunity to be heard. He added that they should rather be thankful for it.

"The evidence will come the moment formal charges are filed. Mabuti nga 'yun kasi 'pag na-file agad yun they have only 10 days to respond. Samantala ngayon they were named, so they have an opportunity in the world to study their case, consult a lawyer, retain a lawyer para bago dumating ang pormal na demanda, naka-ready na sila. Dapat nga magpasalamat sila. Kung ako abogado, magpapasalamat ako," Panelo said.

(The evidence will come the moment formal charges are filed. It is actually better because if they were filed already, they only have 10 days to respond. However, now that they were named, they have the opportunity in the world to study their case, consult a lawyer, retain a lawyer so that even before formal complaints, they are prepared. They should be thankful. If I am their lawyer, I would be grateful.)

Panelo rejected the claims that the Palace is putting the officials on trial by publicity. According to him, trial by publicity will only occur if you accused the person and the media releases only the one who accuses and the accused will not be heard nor their thoughts be known to all. -